West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-12-22
heart, stalwart figure and handsome,

81 was a fool ever to allow my
thoughts to dwell upon her" he told
himself, as he went dejectedly back to
the pile of bank books that were wait.
ing 10 be balanced. eff, out of the
sweet generosity OF her nature, she T.,
good enough TO bestow some trifs Of her
own workmanship upon me, shall
treasure il always. 1t will max out this
Christmas from all other. Christmases,
but skall be even more insane than |
am now to allow myself to be in any way
misled by itr'
While Aunt Pamela looked gravely
at Hetty from over the rims of her
spectacles.
"TIcster, Hester" said she; "why do
you torment that poor young manl'
81, Aunt Pamelafn
"Nhcn you know all the time that you
like him.
IIctty tossed her pretty mead, all
clustered around with soft, curly rings
OF yelow-broNn hair; the blue ewes,
Just the liquid color of o,d Canton
china, sparklcd roguishly.
well and IL do like himi Am ]
TO betray every feeling have"
you IN ght at iea,t be commonly
civil, said Aunt Pamela, rcproachfully.'
"You talk of making something pretty
when you have been all the autumn
working on those velvet slippcys,
stitched in ARA enc, that are intended
for him."
'Must | tell him so, Aunt Pamclal"
Child" argued the old lady, "there
IS reason in all things WHY did you
return from Doctor Crewe's with Junius
Field, when Mr.. Gray had come all that
distance for the pleasure OF walking back
3t your sidei"
'T-I thought I would" murmured
llctty, apparently intent on selecting a
particular shade of scarlet wool out of
the masses that lay IN her lap.
why did you wear John Meredith's
Covers to Miss lIale's party-those great,
vulgar Camellias- and leave Mr. Gray's
English violets TO fade at home on your
dressing -tablci' pursued the catechiscr.
"!-don't t-know, said Hetty. almost
inaudibly.
Il shouldn't wonder" declared Aunt
Pamela, 'if he committed suicide one Of
these days in sheer despair at the man
ner in which you treat himm
young men don't commit suicide
nowadays, Aunt Pamela" said Hetty,
with little, forced laugh.
But the Old iady's words had set heI
to thinking. She was glad that the vel
vctslippers were so beautiful so much
prcit;er than Mr. Fields pen-wiper OF
Mr. Hcrvcy's blotting case or the little
whisk- broom-holdcr that she had worked
for young Meredith. She wouldn't hang
it on the tree like the rest OF the presents
She would surround it with . little at
sOsphere OF mystery. And then, per
haps, if the gift and tho manner OF Civ
ing it plea cd HIM, aud he should speak
out from the fullness Of his heart
After all, If hc really loved her, why
didn't he say soi She wondered with
Redeemed checks and p ettily-archcd eye
b.ows, Il ne expected her TO fling her
SELF unaskc1, into his arms. She didn't
know what young men were coming to
uowadaysl
II only she could have known how, In
his secret heart, poor young Gilbert Gray
was longing for a word, a look, the
mercst gesture OF encouragement. II she
could have understood how his hopes
were dying down into emberlcss ashes
But on Christmas Eve, hc found a little
note, which had got somehow 81 pped
into the pocket Of his overcoat. He read
it eagerly: "If you want your Christ
mas present." it said, 'you must come
to the Old Mill foy it ut nine o'clock
H. p"
Ills heart leaped ioyfully up. There
was no mistaking the pretty, spidery
scrawl OF Ietty's writing--a style Of cal
ligtaphY which, although it would have
proved Hatal TO the prospc Is o. a bank
clerk. was yet considered quite the prop.
or thing for the daughter Of tho bank
president. How inconsistent people are
in this world, to be sure !"
Where ist' place they call the Old
Mil {" nc asked Of Jun u3 Field, who was
yawning on Lis high stool at the next
window.
lave you noyer seen it7' sri ] young
ticld. ITS the old stone run down 10y
the brook Miss PlOver goes there some
time to sket b. II uscd 10 be the olav-
room for the PiovCr ch .ldrcn before 'hcv
die &, or married. all Of 'cm. I've heard
say that at Christmas tines the presents
use 10 be hung mp there
Gilbert sal nothing more lie did not
even express surprise or chagrin. when
Horny triumphantlv displayed his blot
ting case and Ficld cxulted over his
pcl-wipcr.
lie som how understood Uctty's me 10
'ag' rs conveying an tmosphc.e Of
osp"ci favor She was willing evi-
len Is. t) associate him with the sweet
memories Of her childish DAYS. How
cou.d he Dc grateful enough 10 herr
And ne the h nds Of the old clio
Travelled towrd nine upon that wiudg.
boisterJus j i.tm's eve. he munlcd him
'clf mp and started on his walk 90 the
Old Mil
overhead the pines mOanod ard
rocked and seemed to wring their shad.
7wy hl9ds The frozen brook uttered no
sound Here anl there % snow fake ed.
d.cd through the Chill air. but In Gilbert
HIay's heart ihe golden star Of the Christ
mas-tide was flooding everything with
light
He:ty Ployer had finished decorating
lhc house She hld hung up the last
wreath Of ivy, labeled the final present
tled the last red stockings Of the stable
don's child, and put mp packages Of tea
and sugar for the two feeble old women
lt tho tollgatc and now, last Of all sho
had hurried down TO the Cll Mill. sins
ING az she won't TO put Gilbert Grqys
gift on thc old wooden mantle.
How pretty 30 looked Wonld he be
p.cascd fshe wondered. Wou'd he value
Tho g. ftunrr oil a..